A select group of detainees at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have been allowed to plant gardens for the first time, a military spokesman said.
Prisoners in Camp 4, which holds the “most compliant” detainees, started growing tomatoes several weeks ago in concrete soil-filled planters, Navy Cmdr. Robert Durand said.
The military allowed the gardens — and provided plastic gardening tools, watering cans and seeds — at the request of lawyers for detainees, Durand said Friday in an e-mail response to questions about the activity.
Gardening is intended to “provide intellectual stimulation,” to prisoners, he said, comparing it to the military’s detainee library and literacy programs in Arabic and Pashto.
Camp 4 holds about 35 detainees, who are allowed to congregate with each other, spend 12-14 hours a day outside, eat communally and live in barracks-style housing.
I host a daily public affairs radio show in San Francisco called Your Call. It airs from 11 am - noon PST on KALW 91.7 FM. I am also happy to report that I recently got a book deal with PoliPoint Press to write about my road trip through the heartland and the interviews I did with people about why they vote the way they do (or not). It's scheduled to be out in September.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Guantanamo Detainees Grow Gardens
This is surreal. So they're allowed to grow flowers after they're tortured? Be sure to see "The Road to Guantanamo."
You might be surprised to know that the detainees also play volleyball, checkers, chess and backgammon (supplied by the military).
ReplyDeleteThe military also flies in fresh dates and other fruits from the Mideast so the detainees could celebrate Muslim feast days like Ramadan and Eid al Fitr. Plus, the International Red Cross inspects the base on a regular basis.
I also read that the average detainee gains 13 pounds due to the plentiful fresh food provided.
So yeah. Not really suprised they've gotten into gardening...
http://powerlineblog.com/archives/012722.php